We drew Richmond - June 2019

(Helen Hayhoe writes) On Saturday 15 June 2019, we visited Richmond, by the river in south-west London. We were worried about the rising of the river and the falling of the rain, but a pleasing crowd turned out and stayed to produce some wonderful work. We welcomed sketchers from around the world.

We met each time at the Paved Court to catch up with the throw downs. Represented among the sketches are the riverside, Richmond Green, Richmond Theatre, the famous view of the Thames painted by JMW Turner, and the Royal Wardrobe. Sketches below are, in order, by Mike Whalley, Martin Stone, and Zane Karklina.

We drew Richmond - June 2019

A summer evening on the South Bank - 19 June 2019

London's South Bank has a new roof garden above the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and that is where we met for an evening of sketching on 19 June 2019.  Despite uncertain weather, we had a good evening with great views over London.

We started to assemble the group for a photograph, but only some of the group had arrived (photo below) before the clouds opened.  So we all headed inside the Royal Festival Hall to look at each others drawings.  Well done, all.

The evening was run by Jo Dungey and Zane Karklina and the photographs are by Zane Karklina.

A summer evening on the South Bank - 19 June 2019

Let's draw Regent's Park - Saturday 20 July 2019

This month we draw the south side of Regent’s Park, its gardens and parkland.  This offers the opportunity of many colourful subjects.  We start in the fragrant Queen Mary’s Gardens which have over twelve thousand rose plants which will be in full bloom, and the dramatic Triton Fountain.  We can also sketch the fountains and flower beds of the Avenue Gardens, and St John’s Lodge with its classical layout and English flower beds.  Finally, the bandstand, boating lake and the park’s open spaces.  There are views of the grand mansions of the Outer Circle, and people at play and leisure activities.

The day is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.

Key times and meeting points for the day

11am: Meet just inside the Jubilee Gates (see photograph above) on the south side of the Inner Circle road/Queen Mary’s Gardens

1pm: Meet around the Triton Fountain (see photograph below) in Queen Mary’s Gardens to look at sketches done so far

3.30pm: Meet at the Jubilee Gates again to look at sketches and to take group photographs.

After the final throw down of sketchbooks, we have a few suggestions for places to meet and catch up.  The Garden Café in the park has a selection of food, wine and refreshments.  Alternatively, the Volunteer pub is a short walk away at 245-247 Baker Street. 

Options for drawing

Options include: Queen Mary’s Gardens including the Triton Fountain and the famous rose garden:

The Avenue Gardens which have formal flower beds, fountains and planted urns:

The little known and beautiful St John’s Lodge garden:

The bandstand, waterfall, views of the Outer Circle and lake:

If the weather is wet, these are a few suggestions: the Garden Café inside the park; the Museum of the Royal Academy of Music on Marylebone Road (free admission, open 12 noon until 4 pm); St Marylebone Church at 17 Marylebone Road (open 8 am until 4 pm). There are also cafes and bars along Marylebone High Road.      

Practical information

The nearest underground stations are Baker Street and Regent’s Park, and Great Portland Street is not far away.  There are some line closures on the underground this weekend, so check the Transport for London website and allow enough time for your journey.

The website of Regent’s Park has detailed information about the facilities and history of the park, including a map and photographs.  There are also maps on information boards at several points in the park.  The park has several cafes including the Garden Café and Expresso Bar, and there are public toilets (locations indicated on the information board maps in the park).  Admission to the park is free of charge. 

This day is run by Steven Baker and Elwyn Edwards, and photographs are by Steven Baker.

Let's draw Regent's Park - Saturday 20 July 2019

A summer evening near Tower Bridge - Wednesday 7th August

Join us to draw on the south bank of the River Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, including views of the Tower of London, the City skyline, City Hall, and Hay’s Galleria.

The event is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.

Where and when to meet

The sculpture in the centre of Hay's Galleria

6pm - Meet by the sculpture in the centre of Hay's Galleria 

8pm – Meet outside City Hall on the riverside to look through sketchbooks and take a group photo. (At the Hay's Galleria sculpture if wet)

City Hall and Tower Bridge

What to draw

HMS Belfast

The Tower of London

More London

Practical information - Nearest station is London Bridge. A number of local pubs and restaurants for refreshments. Toilets at Hay’s Galleria.

Run by Lis Watkins and Jo Dungey

A summer evening near Tower Bridge - Wednesday 7th August

A summer evening 'Drink and Draw' at the Royal Festival Hall - Friday 12th July 6 - 8pm

Join us at the Royal Festival Hall on Friday 12^th July for an early evening ‘Drink and Draw’ session, from 6 – 8 pm. 

James Richards, Urban Sketcher from Florida is visiting so this is a chance to chat and draw with one of our international friends. An urban designer, travel artist, author and former professor whose work explores great places and placemaking around the globe, his website is at http://www.jamesrichardssketchbook.com/ if you’d like to find out more.

The event is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.

We can meet near the front entrance on the riverside at 6pm and, depending on the weather, draw outside on the terrace or inside in one of the seated areas.

Organised by Lis Watkins. Hope to see you there!

A summer evening 'Drink and Draw' at the Royal Festival Hall - Friday 12th July 6 - 8pm

A summer evening at Victoria Embankment Gardens - Wednesday 17 July 2019

Join us for early evening sketching (6 pm - 8 pm) at the Victoria Embankment Gardens by the River Thames.  Draw the Embankment area including Victoria Embankment Gardens, Whitehall Gardens, great views of central London from the Hungerford Bridge/Golden Jubilee Footbridges, and Charing Cross Station.

The event is free of charge, no need to book, just turn up with your art kit.

Where and when to meet: 

6 pm: Meet near the exit of Embankment Underground Station near the bottom of Villiers Street, not the riverside exit (see photograph above).  There is shelter inside the station if the weather is wet.

8 pm: Meet near the York Watergate inside Victoria Embankment Gardens (see photos at the head of this post, and below) if the weather is good, and inside the entrance of Embankment Underground Station if the weather is wet, to look at sketches done and take group photographs.

We can then decide where to go for refreshments if you wish to do so, as there are many cafes, bars and pubs nearby.

Options for drawing include:

There are public gardens running along the river on both sides of Embankment Station which have trees, flower beds, a bandstand, statues and views of the river.  Between Hungerford Bridge and Waterloo Bridge the monuments are mostly of cultural figures.  The gardens south of Hungerford Bridge going towards the Houses of Parliament have more military monuments; maps and signs use the names Victoria Embankment Gardens and Whitehall Gardens for this area.

The York Watergate, designed by Inigo Jones in 1626 as part of the York House mansion, once provided direct access to boats on the Thames.  This shows how much the course of the Thames was changed by the building of the Thames Embankment in 1864-70.

The Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Footbridges on either side provide great views of central London in both directions.
If the weather is wet, there is some shelter under bridges, in bars and cafes in the area, and the option of drawing in the concourse of Charing Cross Station. 

Practical information:
The nearest stations are Embankment and Charing Cross.  There are many food shops, cafes, pubs and bars in this area, and public toilets inside Charing Cross Station.

This event is run by John Webb and Gafung Wong.

A summer evening at Victoria Embankment Gardens - Wednesday 17 July 2019

We drew Dulwich Village - May 2019

(Rachel Bone writes) Urban Sketchers London left the city behind on 11 May, to venture to Dulwich Village, a beautiful and historic area in leafy South London. Stately Dulwich Picture Gallery, designed by Sir John Soane, provided the meeting point for our group in the morning, and welcome shelter from the rain for the 1 pm meet up.

Sketchers made the most of the periods of bright sunshine to sketch a variety of subjects in the area, huddling under umbrellas and taking advantage of the Picture Gallery's large windows to finish sketches when the sudden showers hit. Many sketched the exterior of the Picture Gallery itself and its surrounding church and almshouses. Others took to the village to recreate the picturesque rows of shops, restaurants, and the Crown and Greyhound pub, which served as our final meeting point. 

It was great to see so many people, including several new faces, find a whole new part of London to explore and sketch, and to enjoy a place so close to the hustle and bustle but with such a different feel. 

We drew Dulwich Village - May 2019